David Sneddon was the winner of the first Fame Academy

BBC talent show Fame Academy is to return for a second series later this year.

Contestants on the show are coached by music teachers and celebrity guests, and then put up for a public vote on which one should leave the series.

Last year's winner David Sneddon won a recording contract and a "life of luxury" for a year.

The first series attracted over 14 million public votes, including 6.9 million for the final show, the highest ever for a BBC poll.

Auditions for the new show will be held across the country starting in Belfast on 17 May.

Sneddon has had a number one single, Stop Living the Lie, and an album, Seven Years: Ten Weeks, since winning the show.

In the first series, stars such as Lionel Richie and Shania Twain made visits to the house to help the contestants with their training.

Comic Relief

The show suffered poor ratings at the beginning of the series, and was panned by critics at first because of its similarity to ITV1 talent shows Popstars and Pop Idol.

But its ratings picked up as the series went on.

Sinead Quinn was also on the show

Apart from Sneddon, the show also introduced Sinead Quinn, who now has a recording contract too.

Profits made from the first series' phone vote lines and record sales have been put into a bursary scheme that budding stars under 30 can apply for.

David Sneddon, who won the first show in December last year, will be helping as an adviser for the bursary's board of trustees.

"My chance came through Fame Academy, and I hope thousands of others get the opportunity they need through the �1 million raised so far and whatever we can raise during this second series," he said.

Details on how people can apply for the bursary will be published in the coming months.